Author Hangouts | How To Find (Great) Indie Books
Where the Cool Kids Hang
Famous though it was, I was not as big of a fan of The Outsiders as I was of Grease.
It might have been the lack of singing and dancing.
And of course I am talking the popcorn-eating versions you engage with on a couch with girlfriends and pajamas, and apparently curlers in your hair.
But good god have you ever tried those things? There is always at least one torturous hair that gets caught in the clip as you unwrap it that makes your eyes water. And with naturally curly (frizzy, big, rambunctious) hair already, I am astounded that I ever used curlers.
I also got a perm.
Forgive me. It was the 80s.
(I did tear out my shoulder pads though.)
(There are lines I cannot cross.)
I do have a point. And I will actually get to it.
"You can read them like handfuls of buttery, salted snacks. Tossing one after the other one away. Of course, popcorn is not necessarily meant to be a meal, but we’ve all done it. I’ve done it."
Here I am!
OK, the point is those guys had hangouts! The local soda shop, the railroad tracks, a magical garage where shiny new engines fall down from the sky and all the mechanics can do the splits.
You know, reality.
But yes, in reality groups of people have hangouts. Places they congregate with like-minded or interested people to talk shop about said interest.
A lot of that has moved online, but there are still live places people go to interact and be cool with their brethren. Their peeps.
So if you are looking for new amazing authors, where do the new amazing authors chill together at?
What’s the Secret Password?
There are tons of ways to connect and find authors in their little known hangouts about the known and unknown universe.
(Yeah, that’s totally not a thing.)
(Wait though, since it’s unknown then maybe they do hangout there and I just don’t know about it. So it’s MY unknown universe.)
(Good gracious, I need to quote Keanu Reeves and say, “Whoa.”)
But authors are out and about and showing themselves in places that are easy for you to spot. And in ways that are quite convenient for you to vet them.
Plus have some RIDICULOUSLY good reading.
OK, here it is…
One of the best places to find new authors where they hangout are in…
Wait for it…
Stop waiting for it…
Would You Just Say It Already?
Short story anthologies!!!
—Hark, dear blog writer. What are these short story anthologies of which you speak?
—And I freaking love novels so why should I read short stories?
OK, there are apparently two of you asking questions. Well I can answer you both in one.
Think of Short Story Anthologies as a reading bowl of popcorn.
You can read them like handfuls of buttery, salted snacks. Tossing one after the other one away. Of course, popcorn is not necessarily meant to be a meal, but we’ve all done it.
I’ve done it.
And an anthology length is usually about the size of a novel. So keep snacking on those popcorn stories and eventually you’ll only have kernels and be quite satisfied.
Or possible full but still wanting more.
(Oh, you popcorn! How you please me and drive me crazy with your tastiness.)
So when you get to the end of an anthology, you know you have taste tested 10+ different authors. Plus had a really delightful run of stories! Of course, if you start gnawing on a story and it gets stuck in your craw (that’s a bad thing) then you can just flip a couple pages and move to the next story.
Let’s Go Shopping
There are a ton of different anthologies out there. Some are solo runs based on a theme/genre (Sorcery & Steam: Magic and Steampunk anthology) or an already established universe (Like Star Trek).
Just to clarify – what you are looking for are multiple author anthologies is New To You!
So avoid single author anthologies (which are technically called collections, but many people mix that up.).
And secondly, there are many anthologies with mixed authors that are all already famous and you have probably already heard of.
Please read these in full if you are interested in what they are. Shovel that salty reading yumminess away to your heart’s content.
BUT!
If you are looking for your Next Favorite Author or Your Next Favorite Book, you want to look specifically for anthologies that are:
- 1) Multiple Authors
- 2) Have at least a good handful of names you don’t recognize
So where, dear heart, mon frère? Where do I go?
Only The Best!
I recommend regular fiction magazines, which are multiple author anthologies that come out on a regular basis. Usually monthly or bi-monthly. There are quite a few around. I recommend sampling them all.
Also, these often have back issues that you can get if you don’t want to subscribe. Or both!
Here are a list to start with that are filled with really good writing and all have award-winning stories in their pages:
Pulphouse Fiction Magazine – Cutting Edge Fiction and Three Time Hugo Award Nominated Magazine. These have a mix of genres, but many of the stories from its pages have also won individual awards. It is writing that will surprise you and it’s just spectacularly good.
*Currently running a Kickstarter! Click here.
Fiction River Magazine – Each issue has its own creative theme or genre ranging all over the spectrum. Genres from sweet romance to dark noir, and themes like Superstitious and How To Save the World. They have many, many issues out so you can peruse their titles and snag a couple to try out in themes to your taste.
WMG Holiday Spectacular – For the holiday fan, get a story from a new author delivered to your email every day from American Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day that is holiday related in a range of genres, but all about the holidays.
In addition to these specific anthologies/magazines, go check out “Best Of” anthologies that are usually put out by genre every year.
On Your Marks!
So you are set!
Go shopping!
Try them out, find an author you like.
Yay!
And next step…
I found a story that I like from a new author. Now what?
Great that you asked!
This is like a Finding Your Next Favorite Book multi-step program. But it’s a really fun journey with a wonderful delight at the end of it.
Great reading!!
All right, dear readers. Until next week!
Stephanie Writt
Writer, instructor, graphic artist and all around lovely soul, with a generous sense of humor (yes, I am totally writing this myself), takes delight in sharing her geeky knowledge and ridiculous joy in reading, writing and business. As the current Director of Operation at WMG Publishing Inc., she has the privilege and mischievous pleasure in writing this blog every week.
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